Law Humor

By texasbar

From Versal Rush of Wichita Falls (Versal is the first assistant public defender), this exchange that took place in a competency trial before Judge Keith Nelson (78th District Court). The client believed that he spoke to Elvis and animals (especially a certain rooster); he claimed to have been, among other things, "a lawyer, judge, doctor, porno producer/director/star, parapsychologist," etc. He actively and frequently "participated in the trial," beginning when he asked Judge Nelson, "What was the origin of the words, 'voir dire'. Then, as Versel was presenting his closing argument concerning his client's incompetencies, suddenly:

Defendant (standing up): Ladies and gentleman of the jury, get me a real lawyer.

Judge Nelson: You ... sit down and be quiet.

[defendant gets louder and louder]

Judge Nelson: I said sit down and be quiet.

Defendant: You, sir, are an _______. And you, sir, are a jerk.

Judge Nelson: And you, sir, are adios.

[Bailiff removes the defendant kicking and screaming from the courtroom.]

The jury found the defendant incompetent in less than 10 minutes. After the verdict, Versal says, "the jury members came up to me, hugged me, and said I didn't get paid enough, but it would be all right."

Full post as published by Say What! on April 28, 2008 (boomark / email).